Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) attacks the brains of infected antlered animals such as deer, elk and moose, producing small lesions that eventually result in death. Animals can get the disease through direct contact with saliva, feces and urine from an infected animal.

There is no evidence that humans or livestock can get the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The first positive case of CWD in Pennsylvania was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in October 2012.

An interagency CWD task force includes the departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection, Health, Transportation, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Interior, United States Geological Survey. The task force is currently following the Chronic Wasting Disease Response Plan to prevent further spread of disease to the commonwealth’s captive and wild cervid populations.